BREAKING: Landlords lauded as official report reveals PRS greener than expected

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Private landlords in England and Wales have been praised for being one step ahead of the government’s energy efficiency certificate (EPC) rules after an official report revealed that the median EPC achieved by all properties within the sector is a band D.

For a property to be rented legally, a landlord or letting agent must obtain an EPC for a property that’s a Band E or above.

But there are Government proposals on the table for all rented properties to reach a Band C by December 2025 for new tenancies and 2028 for existing ones.

The latest report on progress by the department of housing shows that in terms of median EPC band, flats and maisonettes have already reached a band C, while terraces and semis have much further to go, while detached houses are the least energy efficient.

Safe, secure, reform

“It is…good to see letting agents and landlords meeting the requirements and adhering to the rules – everyone wants to see rented property that is safe, secure and warm,” says Timothy Douglas, Policy Manager at Propertymark.

“But the UK Government’s latest proposals for EPC band C presents a much tougher challenge for many properties across the country.

“It is of no surprise that social rented dwellings are more energy efficient because the social rented sector has received significantly more funding to improve energy efficiency than the private rented sector, despite being the smallest housing tenure in England.

“With the wide range of property types in the private rented sector and proposals for a £10,000 cost cap, landlords across the country are being presented with financial and practical challenges, which if not tackled, could result in a reduction in supply and landlords exiting the market.”

Read the DLUHC official report in full.

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The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill and new code of practice

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The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, and the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities has announced the introduction of the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill into Parliament alongside a new code of practice.

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UK Central Bank Digital Currency

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HM Treasury (HMT) and the Bank of England (the Bank) have announced the next steps on the exploration of a UK Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). CBDC would be a new form of digital money issued by the Bank of England and for use by households and businesses for their everyday payments needs.

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SHAMPLINA: Tonight’s TV show highlights rise in tenant anti-social behaviour

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Nightmare Tenants Slum Landlords is back on TV tonight at 10pm on Channel 5, this time exposing the issue of landlords dealing with anti-social tenants.

Anti-social behaviour comes in many forms including drug abuse and prostitution, harassing neighbours or other tenants, property damage and playing loud music.

Tonight’s episode sees one desperate landlord, David Coppen (pictured, below), call upon the help of eviction expert Paul Shamplina (main pic, outside the property) from Landlord Action to evict a badly behaved tenant who has been upsetting the neighbours and terrifying other co-living tenants.

Whilst at the property trying to serve notice, the abusive tenant calls the police trying to claim that he was harassed.

Shamplina says the case really highlights how challenging it is for a landlord to self-manage an HMO and the issue of anti-social behaviour, a rising problem during the pandemic.

He says: “This anti-social tenant was racially abusing the other tenants, as well as being physically threatening. It was a horrendous experience for the other occupants in the HMO with the police called to the property on numerous occasions. The landlord was stuck not knowing what to do.”

ASB increase

Reported cases of anti-social behaviour have increased over the last 18 months due to changes to the eviction process in response to Covid-19. After months of restrictions and longer notice periods, eviction rules have returned to what they were before the pandemic, however without sufficient legislation on HMO’s and the impending abolition of Section 21, Paul says the number of landlords suffering with anti-social behaviour will continue to rise.

“For landlords with disruptive tenants, a Section 21 was the quickest way to gain possession, without having to gather mountains of evidence and rely on neighbours or those affected to give their account in court,” Shamplina adds.

“Once Section 21 ceases to exist, landlords’ only way of evicting anti-social tenants will be to issue a Section 8 notice.  While this will enable them to repossess their property, they will be required to provide sufficient evidence to satisfy a court and, this is not easy, even with the most overtly challenging tenant.

“Without a court system equipped to cope with the vast increase in hearings because of anti-social behaviour, problem tenants will be able to remain in situ far too long, leaving those affected suffering even longer.”

Watch Nightmare Tenants Slum Landlords on Channel 5 tonight (Wednesday 10^th November at 10pm).  

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The MP for Welfare Delivery doesn’t know how your Benefit is paid

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Universal Credit tenants, more bad news, I’m afraid. The MP for Welfare Delivery doesn’t know how your Benefit is paid. So I’m afraid more Landlords aren’t taking you.

I and many Landlords are pulling our hair out at the daftness and lack of communication from DWP Universal Credit

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Only in Scotland! Landlord faces HMO problems over bagpipe-playing tenant

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A property firm has been warned to get tenants to pipe down after Glasgow’s licensing and regulatory committee heard that neighbours complained about a bagpipe-player striding around in an upstairs flat.

Sabhab Holdings was only granted a one-year instead of a three year HMO licence due to noise and maintenance issues, reports Glasgow Live.

A neighbour had reported parties being held at the first-floor tenement flat in Derby street (pictured) as well as a bagpiper tenant playing in the flat.

Representative Archie MacIver said there was no suggestion that the playing was taking place during the night. “It seems to be during the day. He was walking up and down the room beating his feet to keep time.”

However, he said the firm had only heard about the issue before the committee meeting. He added: “Had we known, the applicant would have had a word with the tenant and reminded them to go out to Kelvingrove Park and practice the bagpipes.”

Bagpiping noise

The Glasgow council meeting heard that the previous tenants including the bagpiper had moved out. Receiving confirmation that the applicant had a 24/7 phone line for reporting problems, councillor David Turner said: “It doesn’t matter if it is night or day, if someone is playing bagpipes the whole tenement would hear it. A young baby would have issues with that.”

The committee heard there had also been a delay of more than two years until ventilation was installed in a new toilet in February. A £20,000 refurbishment in 2018 resulted in a new bathroom causing a leak into the home below, which was immediately dealt with by plumbers. The firm had also offered to repair any damage to the downstairs flat.

Sabhab Holdings agreed to engage with neighbours to establish a more harmonious relationship.

Read more about HMO licensing in Glasgow.

Pic credit: Google.

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